Compressor



Patented Sept. 20, 1949 corrrnasson Ralph E. Lamberton, Worthington, Ohio. minor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 28, 1944, Serial NO. 551522 My invention relates to compressor systems, and more particularly to improved means whereby cooling of the fluid after each of the stages of compression in a multi-stage compressor will be eflected;

An object of my invention is to provide an improved compressor system. Another object is to provide an improved compressor having improved means for cooling the compressed fluid after each of the stages of compression in a multistage compressor. Still another object is to provide an improved heat exchange device adapted for use with a multi-sta'ge compressor. Yet another object is to provide for a compressor having two low pressure cylinders and one high pressure.

1 Claim. (Cl. 230-211) invention will be made more fully apparent in the course of the following description.

In the-accompanying drawings, in which one illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a compressor having my improved coolingmeans associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the compressor shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

.Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional'view of the head of one of the low pressure cylinders, taken on a plane including the axis of the cylinder and the longitudinal axis of the compressor.

There is shown in the illustrative embodiment of the invention a compressor, generally designated I, having a pair of low pressure cylinders 2, and a high pressure cylinder 4 mounted on a crankcase 5. The low pressure cylinders are arranged in V relation with their axes lying in planes which are angularly related and are disposed at opposite sides of a vertical plane including the longitudinal axis of the compressor. The high pressure cylinder is arranged with. its axis lying in the vertical plane including the longitudinal axis of the compressor. Enclosed in the crankcase'is a crankshaft l, and the usual transmission connections are provided between the crankshaft and the pistons contained within'the cylinders. provided for driving the crankshaft.

A suitable power or driving unit 9 is Fluid to be compressed is taken into each of the low pressure cylinders 2, as shown in Fig. 7, from a conduit i I, through an intake passage i2 formed in a cylinder head i4, and past an inlet valve l5, during the suction stroke of the piston l6 in the cylinder. During the compression stroke of the piston, fluid is discharged from the cylinder past a discharge valve l8 and throu h a passage 19 formed in the cylinder head and leading to a discharge conduit 20. The cylinder head and the valve mechanism for each of the low pressure cylinders are the same, and since-this structure per so does not enter into the invention, further description of the sameis considered unnecessary.

Supported by the crankcase 5 at the side of the.

cylinders opposite the motor is a fluid cooling device 22 having intercooler sections 23 and 24,

and aftercooler sections 25 arranged in planes extending transversely of the crankshaft. The intercooler and aftercooler sections are similar in construction, and each includes upper and lower headers 26 and 21 having chambers 28 and 23 which are connected in communication with each other by tubes 30. Support members 3| are attached, as by welding, to the headers 26 and 21 at the sides of each of the intercooler and aftercoolersections, and radiating plates 32 spaced longitudinally of the tubes and extending transversely thereof, are fixed to the members 3| in any suitable manner. The headers 26 and 21 are connected respectively, as by bolts 33,- to transversely extending chamber providing members 34 and 35. The member 34 has chambers 36, 31, 38 and 39, the chambers 36 and 31 communicating with the chambers. 28 of the intercooler sections 23 and 24 through ports 40 and 4| respectively, the chamber communicating with-one of the aftercooler sections through a port 42, and the chamber 39 communicating with another of the aftercooler sections through a port 43. The member 35 has chambers 45, 46 and 41, the chambers 45 and 46 communicating with the chambers 29 of the intercooler sections 23 and 24 through ports 46 and 49 respectively, and the chamber 41 communicating with the aftercooler sections through ports 50.

The discharge conduit 20 for one of the low pressure cylinders is connected in communication with the chamber 45, and the discharge conduit 20 for the other low pressure cylinder communicates with the chamber 46. The chambers 36 and 31 are connected by conduits 52 and 53 extending longitudinally of the compressor between the high pressure cylinder and the low pressure cylinders at its opposite sides, to a common intake conduit N for the high pressure cylinder. Fluid supplied to the high pressure cylinder through the conduit 54 is compressed and then discharged through a conduit 55 to the chamber 88. A conduit 56 connected in communication with the chamber 38 delivers the fluid after it has passed through the aftercooler sections, to apoint or use or to a suitable receiver, not shown.

The crankcase 5 is provided with an end plate 58 which supports a bearing 59 for the end of the crankshaft adjacent the heat exchanger 22 and also supports a mounting 66 for a fan 82 which is driven by a pulley 64 attached to a reduced extension of the crankshaft. As the crankshaft is driven by the power unit 9. the fan operates to .create an air stream which passes through the intercooler and aftercooler sections. The air stream engages the walls of the high pressure cylinder and is divided by the latter so that it flows through the spaces between the high and lower pressure cylinders, passing over the surfaces of each of the cylinders, over the fluid conducting conduits, and over the power unit 9.

Each of the low pressure cylinders 2 and the high pressure cylinder 4 is provided with an unloading device 66 to which an actuating fluid is supplied through a connection 58. The unloading devices are similar, and, as shown in Fig. 7, include a plunger 69 reciprocable in a bore in the cylinder head and operative on the supply of fluid thereto for moving a rod-carrying element II in a direction to unseat the inlet valve.

During operation of the compressor, fluid is I discharged from one of the low pressure cylinders to the lower ends of the intercooler sections 23 and flows upwardly through the latter to the chamber 35. Fluid discharged from'the other tration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope or the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Ina compressor, in combination, a pair of low pressure cylinders supported in V relation, a high pressure cylinder arranged vertically between said low pressure cylinders with the longitudinal chambers therein and the other of said cross members having a single intermediate chamber opposite the last mentioned chambers in said one member, separate discharge flow connections leading from said low pressure cylinders respectively to said two end chambers of said other cross member, separate flow connections leading from said two end chambers of said one cross member to said high pressure cylinder, a discharge flow connection leading from said high pressure cylinder to one of said intermediate chambers of said one cross member, a terminal flow connection "leading from said other intermediate chamber in said one cross member, said combined intercooler and aftercooler including parallel radiator sections connected between said low pressure cylinder enters the lower ends of the intercooler sections 24 and is conducted upwardly therethrough to the chamber 31. The conduits 52 and 53 carry the fluid from the chambers 36 and 31 respectively to the intake conduit 54 for the high pressure cylinder. Fluid delivered to the high pressure cylinder is compressed therein and then discharged through the conduit 55 to the chamber 38 where it passes an improved compressor system having improved means for cooling the compressed fluid as it passes through tlie'various stages of compression.-

It will be noted that the arrangementof the sections of the cooling means makes it possible to provide well arranged connections to the cylinders, and these connections are subjected to the cooling efiects of the air stream passing through the cooling sections.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes or illuscross members including radiator sections connecting the opposite end chambers in communication with each other and through which fluid flows from the chambers of said other cross member to said chambersof said one cross member and radiator sections severally. connecting each of said two intermediate chambers to said single intermediate chamber, said cross members, flow connections and said radiator sections being so arranged and constructed that fluid may flow from one of said two intermediate chambers through one radiator section to said single intermediate chamber and from the latter in the opposite direction through another radiator section to said other of said intermediate chambers.

RALPH E. LAMBERTON.

' REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in the the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

